The Portland daily press., 1887-07-06

a successful issue taxed the vigor and strength
and resources Of the nation. To conclude
peace was not possible until that Deace had
been bought with the blood Of patriots. To
whiten the seas with the ships Of commerce
was an example and not precept To declare
the principles Of representative government
was philosophically grand; to create, establish
and perpetuate that form Of government was
heroic. Borne on the current of advancing
thought past all the royal monuments Of
monarchical government, past the turreted
castles of despotism and the magnificent
I villas of arstocracy, far out into the free and
open plains Of nature, where mans allegiance
was to God alone, upon first principles with
man as the unit and the people as the state
the authors Of our government conceived its
plan and declared its purposes. Upon the
| faith, honor and common interest Of the people
they established the government and adopted
the constitution as its rule; rule which has
since suffered no important change and the
additions to which have grown out Of the
necessities Of progress.
The constitution Of the United States was
adopted in the early fall of 1887. These sum-
mer days viii complete a century Of repre-
sentative government. The record is nearly
closed. II will speak to the new@ century Of
the security that government has insured these
many years, the harmony it has preserved, the
improvement il has encouraged, the power for
good it has developed, the genersl welfare il
has promoted at home, and the glory it has
shed upon humanity.
Conceived in truth, born of virtue, raised in
honor and welded to power it encircles us
with its protecting arm and showers upon us
the mf 7ifold blessings it corfeIfed upon our
fathers.
IL is not strange that, in a system Of gov
I.r, =. 4
there were originally many conflicting theories
and conscientious differences, a century of
thought and experience should have developed
some conditions and tendencies that were un-
foreseen and 70 which our attention may be
proftably given.
In the early days Of the republic il was
taken for granted that whatever individual en-
tel prise could not accomplish must be rlder-
taken by the State. Ii was the duty Of the
government 10 provide reasonable meC1s Of
communication and transportation to that
end the postal system was cary established
and great turnpikes and roads were butt for
the convenience of the people at the public
expense. But the rapid development Of science
and the arts, the wonderful progress Of ilven-
ton, and the application Of its products TO
great industries and economic wants, demand
cd prompter service and greater encourage
ment than the government was prepared to
| otter. Private enterprise was unequal TO the
task. The people saw their interests well
served and protected by representation in az
\ departments Of civil government, in the dis
trict, the village, the town, the county. the
| State and the nation. Great public works
were successfully accomplished directed by
their representatives, who had no other than
common interest in then. 1t was plain 'hat
large enterprises could be even more success
l fall ;eJ .h L..
tangible property interests there'a. Private
corporations were fol ned and began to ask for
| public rights. IL was question whether the
| government should decline to have accom-
| plished that which il was unable to accom-
| plish itself. IL was a question of progress
and the federal, State and munich
pal governments generally turned over to
private corporations the development Of all the
great economies of modern / Q. improved
methods of transportation and greater fac 'ities
of communication Immediately fo'owed. The
great necessities and comforts of lie were
brought to the doors Of the people. The nrn-
Der and variety of corporations rapidly n
creased. The prosperity Of the few invitcd
competition, and many were formed until
| prosperity ceased to be necessary purpose 4
the'- organization, and competition aud specu-
lation were in many instances sufficient TO
maintain them. Encouraged by the State, di-
rected with energy and entes prise, they have
been patronized by an admiring people and
have been courted as the repositories of for
tune. Through their agency men Of wealth
are enabled to employ the'- capiu' in inter-
ests more diversified, and public enterprises
more uncertain Of return.
The wef'th Of the country is invested in the
capital of corporations which re using the
agencies Of steam and electricity for extending
the facilities of commerce and communication,
and which are furnishing the people with wa
| ter and light and the neeessaries Of re. Con-
templating with admiration the magnitude Of
the service they rendering. and commend
ing the employment of capital 4 the mag lif-
| cent enterprises undertaken for the public
| good, we cannot but be mindful Of the impor-
tant influence likely to be exerled by them up
on our government. The difficulties encoun-
| tered in the enforcement Of the Commerce act
Of the present year are instructive. We need
to consider more carefully the relations of cor
| porations to the State. Authorized by the
State, and operating under its license, drawing
their sustenance from the economic wants Of
the people, they are entitled to a revenue
which sha" discharge their current obligations,
and pay reasonable dividend upon the capi-
tai employed; beyond this their ea. Iings be-
long to the State, or to the people in reduction
Of rates and taxes. 1t is one Of the questions
Of the day to prescribe such regulations as
sha" not retard the development Of CONNER
cial and industrial interests. but which she'll
secure the rights Of the people from being sub
verted and oveiFeached.
The alt. listic principles upon which our
government was formed developed IN society
new and important influences. The forenen
Of the last century were strong in individusli-
| ty. TAeir personal success and prosperity lad
been achieved by their own fortitude labor
and perseverance. So to use ones owl as not
to injure another's was a maxim Of law aud
rule Of conduct. Society, drinking from the
cup of equality at the fount of liberty. lost its
patrician rank and Purtanic caste. So to use
ones own as to benefit another's became the
rule. Here was the welispring of the great
benevolent and charitable organizations which
have linked men in common friendship and
sympathy. All the interests Of humanity
business and pleasure, virtue and vice, found
Ese aud strength in common cause. Men
chose the comDanions from those who
colsbored with them, and society to- day is
one vast aggregation of associations and organ
izations, each devoted to its peculiar inter st..
Membership is counted by thousands and even
by millions. Jealous Of their purposes, these
associations challenge and threaten on every
hand. The hope is cherished that danger is
more apparent than real. The test Of danger
is the design Of association. "An eombina-
tions and associations said Washington,
"under whatever plausible character with the
real design to direct, control, eonteract or awe
the regular deliberation of the constituted
authorities, are destructive Of the fundamental
principles Of the government and Of fatal
tendency"
We are all members Of society. Most Of US
have fellowship in some associations which
are especially devoted to the advancement Of
our own particular interests. The purpose Of
any organization is controlled by the thought
and design Of the individuals who compose il.
Banishins all prejudice, moderating self inter-
est TO degree consistent with the established
rights of all, and pursuing our vocations with
diligence. it is our privilege and duty to COM
bine with each other when the purpose and
and design of such combination is obedient TO
law, injurious to none, and promotive OF
general good.
Ii is equally our duty, when the purpose Of
such association is subverted and a
tendency is developed which is destructive
of law and order or pernieious to the
peace Of society, to assert our individuality and
return to the support Of the great principles
which underlie citizenship.
In the moulding Of national character some